Church (WCF 25-26, 30-31; WLC 61-66, 69, 82-83, 86; WSC none)

Question 1

What is the universal or catholic church?

Answer 1

WCF 25.1 – “The catholic, or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, in all ages (past/present/future), whom are gathered into true union with Christ by the Spirit.”

Question 2

What is the visible church?

Answer 2

WCF 25.2 – The visible church, which is also catholic or universal, consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, and of their children.

Question 3

What are the attributes of the church? Prove from Scripture.

Answer 3

Nicene Creed: “I believe in one, holy, and apostolic church”

1. ) One – The church is one in unity (Eph. 4:4-6)
2. ) Holy – set apart from unbelief and sin; dedicated to the worship and service of God (1 Peter 2:9-10)
3. ) Catholic – all those throughout the world who profess the true religion (Eph. 4:4-6)
4. ) Apostolic – founded on the authority and teachings of the apostles (Eph. 2:19-20)

Question 4

What are the marks of the church? Prove from Scripture.

Answer 4

1. ) True Preaching of the Word
   - - Acts 2:41-42; Acts 6:4
2. ) Right Administration of the Sacraments:
   - - Matthew 28:19, 1 Cor. 11; Luke 22
3. ) Faithful exercise of discipline:
   - - Matthew 15:15-20, 1 Cor. 5:5, 13

Question 5

Who is the head of the church? Prove from Scripture.

Answer 5

WCF 25.6 – There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.
– Col. 1:18, Eph. 1:22

Question 6

Define 3 basic forms of church government.

Answer 6

1. ) Congregationalism –
   - - pure democracy; each church autonomous; congregation is highest court of appeal; a system of independency where the local church is sovereign and complete apart from every other church; The congregation functions as the governing body
2. ) Episcopalian – hierarchy; bishops over priests
   - - Monarchism; Christ has entrusted the government of the church to an order of bishops as the successors of the apostles
3. ) Presbyterian – plurality of elders; session → presbytery → GA
   - - Acts 15
   - - “Republican/Representative” – Christ has instituted a plurality of leaders over the church, consisting of ordained church officers (elders and deacon).

Question 7

What are the principles of Presbyterian church government? Prove from Scripture.

Answer 7

1. ) Christ is the Head – Col. 1:18, Eph. 1:22
2. ) The official equality of its ministers
3. ) Officers – the ordinary officers of the church, which are perpetual throughout the age, are elders and deacons. (1 Tim 3, Titus 1, Acts 1:21-26)
   - - Ruling elders are representative of the people.
   - - Election of officers by church members
4. ) Courts – Three courts:
   - - Session (consistory) – consisting of the ruling and teaching elders of a local church
   - - Presbytery (classis) – consisting of elders from local churches that serve to govern multiple churches in a region.
   - - Synod/General Assembly: consisting of elders from the presbyteries that provide broader insight.

Question 8

What is the role of women in the church? Prove from Scripture.

Answer 8

God’s design: equality, order, and mutual dependence (1 Cor. 11:8-12)

1. ) Equality before God (Gal. 3:28)
2. ) May pray, read Scripture in public (1 Cor. 11)
3. ) Should teach younger women (Titus 2)
4. ) Works of mercy (Acts 9:36)
5. ) May not exercise oversight over men (1 Tim. 2:12)

Question 9

May women serve as officers in the church? Prove from Scripture.

Answer 9

No, because the office of pastor/elder is a ministry of oversight, this office is to be filled by men.

• • Elders as public fathers
• • 1 Tim. 2:12-15; (Paul is not forbidding them teaching, but the office)

Question 10

What is “subscription?”

Answer 10

The vow of the church officer to submit himself to the system of doctrine and the confessional standards of the PCA, as outlined in the Westminster Standards.

Question 11

Why is there disagreement about “subscription”?

Answer 11

iWhat exactly does it mean for a candidate for the ministry to vow that he “receives and adopts” the Westminster Standards? What constitutes taking an exception to the Standards and what limitations, if any, should the church place on a man who takes an exception?

Summary: These two leading authorities on confessional subscription agree that the debate boils down to one crucial question. Is it biblical for the church to prohibit a man to teach a doctrine which it determines to be an exception to its own standards?

Different Views

1. ) Strict: no exceptions to standards allowed
2. ) Good Faith Subscription: exceptions if not out of accord with the fundamentals of the system of doctrine (“necessary and essential”)
   - - Verbal/semantic disagreement: (1) Exception that does not strike at vitals of religion; or (2) Exception that does strike at vitals of religion
3. ) Loose Subscription: confession is a canopy that can house multiple differing views.

What view of subscription do you hold and why?
The Good Faith Subscription: promotes honest, clarity, and sense of conviction in accordance with the Scriptures as the highest authority and binder of conscience.

Question 12

What privileges do Christians share?

Answer 12

WCF 26.1

1. ) Being united to Jesus - Fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection and glory
2. ) Being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces (Eph. 4:15-16, 1 Cor. 12:7, 12; 1 Cor. 3:21-23)

1 John 1:2-3

Question 13

What duties do Christians owe each other?

Answer 13

WCF 24.2 –

1. ) “holy fellowship & communion in the worship of God
2. ) performing spiritual services to others mutual edification,
3. ) relieving each other in outward needs
   - - Heb. 10:24-25, Acts 2:42, 46; Isaiah 2:3, 1 Cor. 11:20

Question 14

Does the “communion of the saints” deny the right of private property? Explain.

Answer 14

No,

WCF 24.3 – “Their communion doesn’t take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man has in his goods and possession.
– Ex. 20:15, Eph. 4:28, Acts 5:4, Acts 2:42

Question 15

What authority does the church possess?

Answer 15

WCF 30.2 – distinct from the civil magistrate

Wholly spiritual–> not legislative or spiritual
John 18:36 “My Kingdom is not of this world”

To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed: they have power

1. ) to retain and remit sins,
2. ) to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word, and censures;
3. ) and to open it unto penitent sinners by the ministry of the gospel.

– Under the authority of Christ, the apostles and their successors are authorized as Christ’s emissaries to open and to shut the Kingdom of God.

Question 16

What is the purpose of church censures?

Answer 16

WCF 30.3

1. ) Reclaiming and gaining of offending brother
2. ) Deterring of others from the same offenses
3. ) Purging out the leaven which might infect the whole lump
4. ) Vindicating the honor of Christ & profession of the gospel
5. ) Preventing the wrath of God

Question 17

What censures may the church impose?

Answer 17

1. ) Admonition
2. ) Suspension from the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season
3. ) Excommunication from the church (according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the person)

Question 18

Identify some Scripture passages that support the practice of church discipline.

Answer 18

• • 1 Thess. 5:12, 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15; 1 Cor. 5:4-5, 13; Matthew 18:17; Titus 3:10; Gal. 6:1
• • The big ones: Matthew 18 (command) , 1 Cor. 5 (example)

Question 19

Who may properly call church assemblies, synods, or councils? For what purposes?

Answer 19

WCF 31.1 – “It belongs to the overseers and other rules of the particular churches.”
– Not civil authorities

Purposes – WCF 31.2

1. ) Determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience;
2. ) To set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God,
3. ) To receive complaints in cases and to determine them authoritatively.

Question 20

What authority do church councils possess? How should Christians respond to them?

Answer 20

WCF 31.4 – “synods and councils are to handle only that which is ecclesiastical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concern the commonwealth, unless in extraordinary cases.”

WCF 31.3 – “Synods and councils are not to be made the rule of faith, or practice (they have errors); but to be used as a help in both faith and practice.